Argyroxiphium sandwicense

Haleakala Silver sword ( Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. Macrocephalum )

The Silver Sword ( Argyroxiphium sandwicense ) (English Silversword ) belongs to the family Asteraceae (Asteraceae). This species is found at altitudes 2100-3100 Puu Kukui meters only on the highest mountain Westmauis and at Haleakala Crater.

The silver sword is threatened with extinction.

Description

Argyroxiphium sandwicense is a perennial herbaceous plant. The sword-shaped leaves are silvery hairy. Many years growing the species as rosette plant.

After 5 to 20 years of growth, the silver sword produces an inflorescence of 1 to 1.5 meters Height with 100 to 500 individual flowers. After spreading his seed the plant dies, because every silver sword blooms only once. This type blooms from May to October.

Subspecies

  • Haleakala Silver sword ( Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp macrocephalum ( A. Gray ) Meyrat, Syn: .. Argyroxiphium macrocephalum A.Gray ( basionym ), Argyroxiphium sandwicense var macrocephalum ( A. Gray ) Hillebr. )
  • Argyroxiphium sandwicense DC. ssp. sandwicense

Swell

Further Reading

  • PJ Melcher, G. Goldstein, FC Meinzer, B. Minyard, TW Giambelluca & LL Loope: Determinants of thermal balance in the Hawaiian giant rosette plant, Argyroxiphium sandwicense, in Oecologia, Volume 98, Numbers 3-4, Springer Berlin, Heidelberg, 1994 Abstract:
Asteroideae Heliantheae Genus Augustin Pyramus de Candolle
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